Chapter Summaries

Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe saw Old Man Liu and Little Yue'er happily explore their home, while poison struck Sheng Ling and Sheng Hua. The Empress kept Sheng Hua confined in the palace and ordered him watched, suspecting the Sheng Family of plotting against her rule.

• Old Man Liu and Little Yue'er excitedly wandered through the courtyards and rooms as Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe watched.
• Yun Niang told Sheng Ling that the captive had been rescued and their people were dead, then discovered Sheng Ling's face and neck were covered in bumps and her hair was falling out.
• The imperial physicians diagnosed Sheng Hua as poisoned, but the Old Imperial Physician could not yet cure him.
• The Empress ordered Sheng Hua to rest in the palace and not leave the hall, then departed without comforting him.
• After the Empress left, Sheng Hua ordered his personal little servant executed for screaming and drawing her attention.
• The Empress ordered her female official to keep Sheng Hua under close watch and suspected the Sheng Family of scheming to overthrow her.

Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe reunited in their new courtyard while Little Yue'er gave them space to talk. After Su Qiao fell asleep in the bath, Qi Jinghe carried her to bed, where she pulled him down beside her.

• Su Qiao praised Little Yue'er for protecting his father and grandfather and began making him a swing in their new courtyard.
• Old Man Liu took Little Yue'er inside, and the boy revealed he knew his grandfather was giving Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe time alone.
• Qi Jinghe brought Su Qiao tea, and they spoke gently about how hard each had worked to keep the family safe.
• Su Qiao fell asleep in the bath, so Qi Jinghe carried her to bed and tucked her beneath the blankets.
• Su Qiao drowsily pulled Qi Jinghe down beside her and draped a leg over him, leaving him blushing and flustered.

Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe settled into a comfortable life in Xiangcheng, while the Empress continued investigating the people and events connected to them. The chapter ended as an urgent military dispatch arrived at court.

• Qi Jinghe held Su Qiao as she slept and reflected on how his hatred had given way to love and contentment.
• Su Qiao woke at night, and Qi Jinghe kissed her before the narration skipped to the next day.
• Old Man Liu took Little Yue'er out so the child would not disturb Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe, who were still sleeping.
• The Empress learned that the Little Prince intended to stay in Xiangcheng and ordered an investigation into a mother and daughter in Xiaoqiu Town.
• An urgent dispatch arrived during the morning court session, and the Empress's female official handed it to her.

The Empress revealed that Prime Minister Sheng had colluded with Great Jin and ordered her arrest. After Great Jin sued for peace and agreed to pay tribute, the Empress moved to destroy the Sheng Family, leaving its members facing imprisonment and execution.

• The Empress announced that Great Jin had sued for peace and promised annual tribute, stunning the ministers.
• The Empress ordered guards to seize Prime Minister Sheng and accused her of conspiring with Great Jin to overthrow the dynasty and claim the realm for the Sheng Family.
• The Empress presented the agreement and letters linking the Sheng Family to Prince Lie, and accused Sheng Ling of persecuting the Little Prince and the Sheng Family of obstructing her from conceiving another child.
• The ministers condemned Prime Minister Sheng and urged the Empress to punish the Sheng Family.
• The Empress ordered General Wang to surround the Prime Minister's Estate, arrest the Sheng Family, imprison them, and execute them on an appointed day.

Su Qiao visited the imprisoned Sheng Family and revealed how she had exposed their schemes and helped bring about their downfall. She left Sheng Ling furious and disbelieving after telling her that Dajin had requested peace and surrendered the agreement with the Sheng Family.

• Su Qiao followed General Wang into the death prison, where the Sheng Family was being held.
• Su Qiao told Sheng Ling that she had caused the sores on her face and had known about her schemes since the incidents in Xiaoqiu Town and Jiang Family Village.
• Su Qiao explained that Sheng Ling’s correspondence with Prince Lie had led her to expose the Sheng Family to the Empress.
• Sheng Ling and her mother vomited blood as Su Qiao mocked them and revealed that Dajin had requested peace and sent over its agreement with the Sheng Family.
• Sheng Ling refused to believe that Dajin had submitted, still confused after days of fever caused by poison.

Su Qiao confronted Prime Minister Sheng and Sheng Ling about the destruction of the Sheng Family, then returned to Xiangcheng with her family and a box of the family’s jewelry. She reassured Qi Jinghe that she had cleared taking it with the Empress, and the family celebrated their return home and their plans for the money.

• Su Qiao told Prime Minister Sheng and Sheng Ling that their family had brought its downfall upon itself, and they fainted after vomiting blood.
• Su Qiao accompanied General Wang as he confiscated the Sheng Family’s possessions, then took a small wooden box of jewelry.
• Back in Xiangcheng, Su Qiao told Old Man Liu and Little Yue'er that they could return home.
• Su Qiao showed Qi Jinghe the jewelry and explained that General Wang had informed the Empress she had taken it.
• Su Qiao described her plans to renovate their house, buy Qi Jinghe gold and jade hairpins, and get him a shop, while Little Yue'er reassured his father that he still loved him.

Su Qiao returned to Xiaofeng Village with her family, while the Empress received reports that exposed the Little Prince’s hidden talents and her devotion to Qi Jinghe. The Empress was left baffled by the Little Prince’s extravagant praise of her husband.

• Su Qiao teased Qi Jinghe, and he playfully threatened to make pancakes if she broke her promise to him.
• Old Man Liu took Little Yue'er outside while Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe whispered together.
• Su Qiao brought her family back to Xiaofeng Village and kept their Xiangcheng residence for future trips.
• The female official told the Empress that Su Qiao pretended to be an illiterate good-for-nothing but was actually brilliant and immensely strong.
• The female official reported that Su Qiao cherished Qi Jinghe and had praised his looks in court, leaving the Empress wondering if Su Qiao had ever seen anyone handsome.

The Empress learned that the Little Prince and his husband had defeated Da Jin’s invasion with explosives and a scheme involving wild beasts, forcing Da Jin to seek peace. After the Little Prince returned to Xiaoqiu Town with wealth from the Sheng Family treasury, the Empress ordered General Wang to bring him back.

• The Empress asked whether Da Jin had invaded and why it had suddenly sought peace, and the court lady confirmed the invasion was true.
• The court lady reported that the Little Prince and his husband alone had driven back five thousand Jin soldiers using powerful explosives and wild beasts.
• The Empress praised the Little Prince’s tactics and learned that he had returned to Xiaoqiu Town after the Sheng Family was confiscated.
• General Wang relayed the Little Prince’s excuse for leaving and his claim that the money and jewelry he took counted as betrothal gifts from the Empress.
• The Empress laughed at the Little Prince’s message and ordered General Wang to bring him back.

Su Qiao enjoyed family life in Xiaofeng Village and trained Qi Jinghe and Little Yue'er, but General Wang arrived with officials to deliver the Emperor’s summons for her to return to the capital. She questioned why the Emperor still wanted her back after General Wang had relayed her refusal.

• Su Qiao taught Qi Jinghe and Little Yue'er a sword technique and praised Qi Jinghe’s progress, crediting her medicine for improving the family’s health.
• Qi Jinghe kissed Su Qiao, and Little Yue'er and Old Man Liu tactfully left the courtyard.
• General Wang arrived at the village gate with soldiers, knelt before Su Qiao, and said the Emperor wanted her to return to the capital.
• Magistrate Guo apologized for his past treatment of Su Qiao, and she assured him he had acted impartially.
• Su Qiao asked General Wang why the Emperor had summoned her after he had already relayed that she would not return.

Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe agreed to return to the capital with General Wang, while keeping open the possibility of coming back to the village. Before leaving, Su Qiao visited Jiang Qiuyan, who had shut down her gambling den and begged for mercy.

• General Wang told Qi Jinghe that the Empress had ordered his mother’s remains returned to the capital and offered honors for her burial, and had prepared a residence and gifts for his family.
• Su Qiao persuaded Qi Jinghe to go to the capital with her, and they arranged to leave the next morning while asking the Village Chief to guard their house.
• The old man returned with Little Yue'er and accepted that the family would be going to the capital.
• Su Qiao went to the gambling den in Little Jiang Village, where Jiang Qiuyan fell to her knees and said she had closed it.

Su Qiao arranged for Jiang Qiuyan to keep the gambling den open, and rumors about Little Yue'er’s parentage spread until people stopped slandering him and Qi Jinghe. After Su Qiao brought her family to the capital, she comforted Qi Jinghe, who feared that her becoming Empress would force her to marry other men.

• Su Qiao instructed Jiang Qiuyan to keep the gambling den open and leave without causing too much harm.
• News spread that Little Yue'er was Su Qiao’s son, that Li Dabao had drugged Qi Jinghe, and that Su Qiao had crippled Li Dabao’s leg.
• The next morning, Su Qiao’s family left by carriage and reached the capital a month and a half later.
• Su Qiao settled her family in the princely residence bestowed by the Empress and spent her days trying to comfort Qi Jinghe.
• Qi Jinghe admitted that he could not bear Su Qiao being with other men, and Su Qiao promised that she would not marry anyone else.

Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe settled into life together after she gave up the throne, and they attended a palace banquet for Great Jin’s peace envoy. Su Qiao publicly defended her Prince Consort against snide remarks, but the banquet’s guests began questioning his past.

• Su Qiao comforted Qi Jinghe, telling him she had chosen this life herself, and he thanked her before turning their reunion intimate.
• A few days after Su Qiao’s family settled down, Great Jin sent an envoy to discuss peace, and Su Qiao brought Qi Jinghe to the palace banquet.
• Su Qiao and Qi Jinghe entered the hall in formal attire and drew attention from the guests, who reconsidered the rumors about their looks and bearing.
• Su Qiao poured Qi Jinghe wine and told a minister’s son that she would never make her beloved Prince Consort do chores such as embroidery.
• The guests’ resentment toward Qi Jinghe grew, and one attendee brought up his former street stall before Su Qiao said she had remembered something important.

At the banquet, Su Qiao defended and praised Qi Jinghe while Prince Lie acknowledged her martial skill and admired her Prince Consort. The chapter ended with Qi Jinghe asking Prince Lie to spar with him.

• Su Qiao ignored the second minister's son and told Qi Jinghe they would look for a shop to rent after the banquet.
• Su Qiao praised Qi Jinghe's looks and mocked the other men, leaving the guests and Empress speechless.
• Prince Lie greeted Su Qiao, who asked whether his injuries had healed and challenged him to exchange moves.
• Prince Lie praised Su Qiao for single-handedly entering Great Jin's camp, injuring him and others, taking a letter, and blowing up the command tent.
• Su Qiao proudly showed off Qi Jinghe to Prince Lie, who admitted he found him appealing.
• Qi Jinghe asked Prince Lie to give him martial arts guidance.

Prince Lie challenged Qi Jinghe to a match, and Qi Jinghe defeated him at the Training Ground. Prince Lie acknowledged Qi Jinghe's skill but regretted that he belonged to Great Su, while Qi Jinghe returned to Su Qiao's side.

• Su Qiao worried that Qi Jinghe might fight Prince Lie, but Qi Jinghe accepted the challenge.
• Su Qiao warned both men not to hurt each other, and the group moved from the banquet to the Training Ground.
• Qi Jinghe defeated Prince Lie, stopping with his sword at Prince Lie's neck.
• Prince Lie praised Qi Jinghe and learned that he had studied under Su Qiao for only two or three months.
• Prince Lie regretted that Qi Jinghe belonged to Great Su and admitted he had underestimated him.

Su Qiao rejected the Su family's belief that she brought misfortune, while the family learned that Su Baozhu's injured fiancé might never walk again. The chapter ended with Su Baozhu crying over the prospect of marrying him as Old Lady Su tried to comfort her.

• Su Qiao recalled how the Su family blamed her for accidents and misfortunes that had ordinary explanations.
• Liu Hong told the Su family that the Liu family's son had suffered a crushed leg in a mine and might never walk again.
• Liu Hong said the Liu family wanted to arrange the wedding quickly to bring the injured son good luck.
• Su Baozhu cried to Old Lady Su that she did not want to marry a disabled man, and Old Lady Su comforted her.

The Su Family argued over whether to cancel Su Baozhu’s marriage to the crippled Liu Weiye, but they refused to return the betrothal gifts. They proposed marrying Erya to him instead, and the chapter ended with the old lady dismissing any need to ask Erya’s consent.

• Xiao Aizhen worried that marrying Su Baozhu to Liu Weiye would ruin her daughter’s life and suggested returning the betrothal money and gold bracelets.
• Su Guofu and Liu Hong opposed returning the 800 yuan, while Su Guoqiang offered no solution.
• The old lady insisted Su Baozhu could not marry Liu Weiye and urged the family to find another plan.
• Liu Hong and Su Guofu proposed substituting Erya for Su Baozhu.
• Xiao Aizhen hesitated because Erya might refuse, but the old lady said Erya’s agreement did not matter.

Su Baozhu resisted being married to the crippled Liu Weiye, and her grandmother decided to send Erya in her place. As the family accepted the decision, the old woman demanded that the sick Erya get up and make dinner.

• Liu Hong and the old woman argued that Erya should marry Liu Weiye, while Su Guofu and Su Guoqiang stayed silent.
• Su Baozhu tearfully objected to marrying Liu Weiye and ran toward the dark outdoors before the old woman pulled her back.
• The old woman declared that Erya would be sent to the Liu family instead, and Su Guoqiang went outside to smoke without protesting.
• Xiao Aizhen explained that Erya was sick, but the old woman accused her of avoiding work and refused to pay for medicine.
• The old woman ordered Xiao Aizhen to make dinner, while Su Baozhu happily clung to her grandmother and praised her.

Su Qiao reviewed how the Su family had favored Su Baozhu and mistreated her, while remaining calm as they discussed selling her off. She was left in her room, determined not to let them decide her fate.

• Su Qiao lit a candle and returned to bed while 444 questioned why she was not worried about the family discussing selling her.
• Su Qiao explained that Su Guoqiang and Xiao Aizhen blamed her for their troubles and treated Su Baozhu as their only daughter.
• Su Qiao recalled that the family treated Su Baozhu as a lucky star because gold was found on the day she was born.
• Su Qiao remembered years of exhausting chores, poor food, and hand-me-down clothes while Su Baozhu received better treatment.
• Su Qiao recalled that the Su family sent her to school at seven but made her return to work after primary school without asking her opinion.

Su Qiao recovered from her fever and thought about avoiding the marriage to Liu Weiye, hoping to find her man in the village. Xiao Aizhen brought her a bowl of food, and Su Qiao ate it while hinting that she had long been deprived of proper meals.

• Su Qiao recalled that the original Su Qiao had been sent to Liu Weiye’s family soon after being forced into the marriage.
• Su Qiao reasoned that the Liu family might reject a replacement bride because Liu Weiye had spent money on Su Baozhu and genuinely liked her.
• Su Qiao asked 444 whether it had found her man and decided she could look for him around the village the next day.
• Xiao Aizhen entered with a bowl of dough-drop soup and an egg, startling when she saw Su Qiao watching her.
• Su Qiao ate the food quickly and told Xiao Aizhen she had not eaten a full meal or refined grain in a long time.

Xiao Aizhen told Su Qiao that Su Baozhu wanted her to take her place and marry Liu Weiye, who had been badly injured in a mine accident. Su Qiao feigned horror at being asked to marry a cripple, recalling that in her previous life she had suffered abuse after being forced into the same marriage.

• Su Qiao hinted that she had been denied good food in favor of Su Baozhu, making Xiao Aizhen uncomfortable.
• Xiao Aizhen told Su Qiao that Su Baozhu did not want to marry Liu Weiye and wanted Su Qiao to take her place.
• Su Qiao questioned why Su Baozhu had changed her mind, then pointed out that she had recently been riding and laughing with Liu Weiye and showing off gifts he had bought her.
• Xiao Aizhen admitted that Liu Weiye had been struck by a rock at his father's mine and might never walk again.
• Su Qiao acted devastated that her mother wanted her to marry a cripple and remembered the abuse she had endured in her previous life after marrying Liu Weiye.